Government Chapter 2
Framers of the Constitution
" an assembly of demi-gods" James Madison: co-author of the Articles, father of Constitution Alexander Hamilton: a lawyer who favored a strong central government, high federalist george washington: successful leader of Continental Army
Connecticut Compromise
( The Great Compromise) delegates agree on bicameral congress, one segment for equal rep, for states and the other will rep, proportionate to the states population.
weakeness in Articles
1 vote for each states, regardless of size, congress powerless to levy and collect taxes or duties, congress powerless to regulate foreign and interstate comers, no executive to enforce acts of congress, no national court systems, amendment only with consent of all states,a 9/13 majority required to pass laws, only a firm league of friendship
Unicameral congress under articles
1 vote per state, no executive, no judicial, 1 president of congress per year
Magna Carta
1215
Petition of Rights
1627
English Bill of Rights
1689
Hot Summer in Philly
1787- congress consents to meeting, calls for 13 states to send representatives for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation. All by Rhode Island at tented( were small and didn't want to give up power)
3/5 compromise
3/5 of the slave population was counted for representation
How many men wrote the Consituton
55 delegates, white male, college educated, wealthy, many were lawyers who wrote state constitutions, Washington presides Franklin is the unifier. James Madison is the Father of the Constitution
1754
Albany Plan, BJ proposed the union in which an annual congress of delegates from each of the 13 colonies would be formed
March 1, 1781
Articles of Confederation adopted
September 5 1774
FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, colonists sent a declaration of rights to King George III, the delegates urged each of the colonies to refuse all trade with England until British tax and trade regulations were repealed or recalled
First president and vice president
GW AND JA
Who were some Federalists
George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton
When was the Constitution ratified
June 21, 1788, by nine states but the new government needed the ratification of NY and Va. VA ratified on June 5, 1788. The Federalist Papers were written by John Jay, Madison and Hamilton. they were written to support the ratification.
Proprietary colonies
King gave permission to do what they wanted, set up land Delaware, Pennsylvania- William Penn, Maryland- Lord Baltimore proprietor appoint governor, DE and MD have bicameral legislatures, PA has unicameral legislature
July 2,1776
Lees resolution was passed by the second continental congress
1643
NE settlements formed the NE confederation
The two states ratification depended on
NY AND VA
first capital
Ny
English colonists brought with them three main concepts
Ordered social system, government that protects property, limited government( should not be all powerful), representative government( serves the will of the people)
Who were some Anti- Federalists
Patrick Henry, George Mason, John Hancock, James Winthrop
Famous leaders not at the congress
Patrick Henry: said he smelt a rat, refused to attend samuel adams and john hancock, thomas jefferson and Thomas Paine
May 10 1775
THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, each of the 13 colinies sent represntatiteves to the gathering in Philadelphia. The SCC served as the first government of the US. from 1776 to 1781.
June 7, 1776
a committee of 5 people were chosen to right the Declaration; Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, BJ, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston
Articles established...
a firm league of friendship among the states
1765
a group of colonies sent delegates to the congress in New York, prepared the declaration of rights and Grievances against British polices and sent it to the king. THE STAMP ACT CONGRESS
Virginia Plan
big state plan by James Madison, three branches of government, bicameral legislatures, national executive and national judiciary
the commerce and slave trade compromise
congress was forbidden from taxing exported goods and were not allowed to act on the slave trade for 20 years (1808)
august 2
declaation was signed broken into 3 sections; basic rights, list of grievances, intentions
july 4, 1776
declaration was adopted
Powers under Articles
declare peace and war, deal with national finance issues, settle disputes among the states
Royal Colonies
directly ruled by the English monarchy Governor serves as chief executive council named by the king,serves the governor , gov and council approve laws and appoint judges bicameral legislature
Influences for Constitution
familiar with political writings of Jean Jacques Rousseau, John Locke, were seasoned variously by the Second Continental Congress, the Artcles, and experiences with their own states
Influences on Declaration
john locke,thomas paine, greek and roman empress, dutch republic and swiss Confederation
Congressional powers under the Articles
make war and peace, send and receive ambassadors, make treaties, borrow money, set up an monetary system, establish post-offices, build a navy, raise a army, fix standard of weights and measures, settle disputes and among the states
When did the new congress meet
met for the first time on March 4,1789
Federalists
nationalists- thought that the Articles were weak and argues for the ratification of the constitution
anti- federalist
objected to the Constitution for many reasons including the strong central government and the lack of a bill of rights
American Independence
only july 4th the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independece between 1776 and 1777 most of the states adopted constitutions instead of charters
common features of state constitutions
popular sovereignty, limited government, civil rights and liberties, separation of powers and checks and balances
Articles of Confederation
proposed by Second Continental Congress, approved on Nov. 15, 1777, ratified by all 13 states on March 1, 1781
What obligations did states have to citizens
protect life, liberty and property
When was the Government Inaugurated
quorom(majority) on April 6 and counted the electoral votes. Congress Found the George Washington had been unanimously elected President. He was inaugurated on April 30.
What obligations did the states have to one another
respect each states laws
Original goal of the Constitutional Convention
revise Articles
Charter Colonies
self- governed, and the charters were given to them Conn, Rhode Island, governors elected by white, male property owners, laws made by bicameral legislatures were not subject to the approval( or veto) of governors OR king, very progressive for the time
What government action took place in response to shays rebellion
showed that the articles were weak and it eased peoples debts
new jersey plan
small state plan William Patterson unicameral congress, equal representation for states of different sizes, more than one federal executive
reactions of Constituon
some were disappointed like George Mason who opposed it until he died in 1792, most agreed with BJs thoughts
obligations under articles
states promised to obey congress, respect the laws of the other sttea, most other powers were retained by each state
What did the Federalists want
stronger central government to maintain oder and preserve Union ,pointed out weaknesses of Articles, advantages were that they were well organized and strong leaders, disadvantages were that the Constitution had was unties, has no Bill of Rights
What powers did Congress not have
tax and regulate trade, carry out their laws
What did the Anti- Federalists Want
thought a strong central government would destroy the work of Revolution, limit democracy, restrict states rights, Constitution had no protection of rights, suggest that Constitution gives central government more power, advantages: appealed to popular distrust of government, based on colonial experience disadvantages: poorly organized
Five Issues with the Ratification debate
weakness of national government, ratification process, no mention of God, denial of states printing their own money, no bill of rights